Minutes of Administrative Report and Annual General Meeting

Held on Monday 6th December 2010 at the Mgarr Local Council

 

The Annual General Meeting started at 7:45p.m. and finished at about 9:30p.m. The members present were:

Executive Members:

Mr. Manuel Azzopardi – President

Ms. Faabienne Azzopardi – Secretary General

Mr. Oswald Spiteri – Treasurer

Mr. Euchar Camilleri – Executive Member

 

Affiliated Members:

Ms Donatelle Callus

Ms Maria Vella Galea

Mr. Nathan Farrugia

Dr. Richard Camilleri

Mr. Cyprian Dalli

Mr. Mark Zammit

Mr. Andrew Fleri Soler

Mr. George Vella

Mr. Fabio Spiteri

Mr. Brian Magri

 

Representatives of Clubs:

Mr. Victor Camilleri – President Pembroke Athleta Athletics & Triathlon

Another representative of Pembroke Athleta Athletics & Triathlon.

Mr. Cyprian Dalli, apart from being an affiliated member of the MTA, was also representing the St. Patrick’s Running Club.

Dr. Danica Bonello Spiteri and Ms Michelle Vella Wood were both excused. Dermot Galea and Johanna Calleja were both abroad.

 

At the start of the AGM a minute’s silence was held in remembrance of George Brydon and Christopher Bugeja (the son of Mark Bugeja) who both passed away during this year.

 

The Minutes of the 2009 AGM and Administrative Report, which had been distributed by electronic mail together with the notice of the AGM, were taken as read. The Minutes were proposed by Andrew Fleri Soler and seconded by Fabio Spiteri. The President signed the Minutes.

 

 

 

Administrative Report

The President opened the Report by thanking all those who in any way had been involved in the 2010 triathlon season: Triathletes, administrators, spectators, race organisers, journalists, partners, colleagues, sponsors, helpers.

 

The 2010 Season

The highlight of the 2010 Triathlon Season was the increase in participation of athletes in our races.

The quality of the performances also improved. This was reflected in the MOC Sports Awards, where Triathlon was represented in all 3 categories

The Malta Triathlon Association and the B’Kara St Joseph Sports Club honoured the MTA 2010 Race Programme throughout the Season. These were:

-         National Duathlon Champs (28th March). 43 athletes (12 women & 31 men); 3 Relay Teams Winners: Danica & Dermot;

-         B’Kara’s 1st Sprint (13th June). 39 athletes (10 women & 29 men); 4 Relay Teams; 6 in Super Sprint; Winners: Danica & Keith;

-         B’Kara’s 2nd Sprint (11th July). 40 athletes (7 women & 33 men); 2 Relay Teams; Winners: Danica & Keith;

-         B’Kara’s 3rd Sprint (5th September). 43 (11 women & 32 men); 23 in Super Sprint; 5 Relay Teams; Winners: Danica & Mark.

-         B’Kara’s 4th Sprint (19th September). 40 athletes ( 10 women & 30 men); 16 in Super Sprint; 10 Relay Teams; Winners: Danica & Brian.

-         National Tri Champ (3rd October). 45 athletes; (13 women & 32 men); 23 athletes in Sprint; 16 Relay Teams. Winners: Danica & Mark Sykes – Maltese: Keith Galea.

-         Team Triathlon (2nd May) – 10 Teams (winners: Keith – Suzanne – Nathan; Distances: S:300m; B: 6.6km; R: 1.6km)

 

The National Team took part in the Liechtenstein TCSSE on the 21st and 22nd August. Malta was represented by Danica, Johanna, Dermot & Mark. (No official.) Two Races were held: The Team Triathlon was won by our Team against stiff opposition from 6 other Teams. In the individual Race, Mark & Dermot placed 2nd and 3rd while Danica & Johanna were 5th & 8th. For the first time, there was a team from San Marino in these TCSSE; it was also the first time that Liechtenstein held this Championship and the first time that a Team Event and a Sprint were held.

 

As part of the MOC and CONI Sicilia Mediterranean Friendship Games held between 19th and 20th November, the Malta Tri Assoc organized a Sprint Tri on Saturday 20th at 14:00hrs. Twenty-eight athletes took part. The Race was won by Frederica Cernigliaro and Salvatore Campagna but our male athletes managed to secure 2nd and 3rd place, thus winning gold in the Men’s Category. The Sicilians are strong and worthy opponents and it is to our benefit that we continue to participate in these Games.

 

Individually, several of our athletes travelled abroad to take part in Races in the UK, Abu Dhabi, Spain, France, Austria, Hungary, Greece & Sicily. (Refer to List of Maltese Athletes who took part in Races Abroad.)

 

Between the 20th and 26th September, Donatelle, Carl Attard and Mark Zammit, took part in a Training Week in Cefalu, Sicily. This TC was made possible thanks to the MOC – CONI Protocol.

 

 

 

Other aspects of the 2010 Season:

-         2010 Malta Triathlon Champions: Danica Spiteri and Keith Galea.

-         Triathlete of the Year Awards were won by Danica Spiteri and Brian.

-         Two Doping Tests carried out on the Maltese winners of the Nat Tri Champ.

-         We have established a good relationship with Venom Tri Club in the UK.

-         MOC Sports Awards (for 2010), Triathlon represented in Gold, Silver & Bronze.

-         KMS Sports Awards (for 2009), D Bonello Spiteri - 3rd in Sportiva Nazzjonali.

-         Attendance & participation in local forums: Johanna Calleja & Isabelle Zarb.

-         MOC organized a 3-day Training Course for Doping Control Officers. Triathlon was represented by Dr. Danica Bonello Spiteri.

-         Middle-Distance Tri organized by Charlie Demanuele on 16 May at Marsascala.

-         Hell Fire Tri organized by Nathan Farrugia on 29th August.

-         Weekly Swimming Training Session organized by National Coach at Ta’ Qali Pool;

-         As an Executive Committee, we met 3 times.

-         The Trinewsletter has come out 3 times this year. It is currently in its 43rd edition.

Attendances at this year’s events continued to improve over those of the previous years’: 

Statistics of Participation in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 & 2010 Races

Race

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

Nat Duathlon Championships

9

28

23

21

43

B'Kara Race 1

12

17

19

32

39

B'Kara Race 2

10

19

20

39

40

B'Kara Race 3

7

20

25

39

43

B'Kara Race 4

11

21

27

N/A

40

Salina Tri/TCSSE/Sicily-Malta

11

17

19

22

N/A

Nat Triathlon Championships

15

22

18

19

45

Some other aspects of the 2010 Season:

-         MTA Council Members cannot always attend important international fora.

-         Race Fees do not reflect the reality of race expenses. Joseph F. Spiteri & Co (1927) and the B’Kara St Joseph Sports Club offer their equipment for free to the MTA.

-         We are looking for new Sponsors:

The following Table shows what the Races cost the MTA during 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.

 

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

Race/Event

Profit/

Deficit

Profit/

Deficit

Profit/

Deficit

Profit/

Deficit

Profit/

Deficit

Nat Duathlon Champs

Lm86.89

Lm4.27

€127.54

€70

€283.20

Salina Bay Triathlon

Lm78.60

Lm16.07

€209.01

N/A

N/A

Team Triathlon

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

€75.40

TCSSE

Lm219.91

N/A

N/A

€751.26

N/A

Med Friendship Tri

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

€196.85

Nat Tri Champs

Lm55.20

Lm159.88

€739.80

€846.88

€255.45

Total: Profit/Deficit

Lm440.60

€1026.32

Lm148.08

€344.93

€1076.35

€1668.14

€810.90

The MOC’s financial Travel Grant this year was €2300. This was used to send the NT to Liechtenstein.  For 2011, we have asked for a Grant of €11656 from the MOC.

The MOC also provide:

-         The FDL (Functional Diagnostic Laboratory) Tests.

-         Medical Services @ St James (Capua) Hospital in Sliema to all members of NT.

In 2010 the MTA received the sum of €1257.76 from the KMS for 2009 projects.

The KMS also assists the MTA by providing Membership to National Pool & Gym.

The MTA has requested assistance from the KMS to cover the following 2010 projects:

-         Travel Assistance (€510.91) for athletes who took part in Training Camp in Sicily;

-         Travel Assistance (€469.64) for National Coach.

-         Assistance to partly cover the expenses covering the 2 Doping Tests.

 

International Scene

Earlier this year, the ITU President, Ms Marisol Casado (Spain), was elected a full member of the IOC. The ETU President is Philip Schadler from Liechtenstein.

 

The 2011 Season

It is the intention of the MTA to continue with our policy to conduct Doping Tests during our major races.

The Race Calendar for 2011 has 7 Championship Races

The 12th edition of the TCSSE is scheduled to be held in Cyprus on Sunday 27th March. The Sicily-Malta Friendship Tournament is scheduled to be held in Sicily.

Other Points re the 2010 Season:

-         Race Fees remain unchanged: Dua & Sprint: 10/14/18; Olympic: 20/28/35.

-         Affiliation Fee remains €5;

-         Our resources – especially those human – are being stretched beyond their limits;

-          Possibility of organizing the Gozo-Malta Triathlon on Saturday 23rd April;

-         Negative journalism: One particular sports journalist has targeted triathlon;

-         Pre-Competition Medical Form to be filled in by athletes and handed in prior to race;

-         2010 KMS Sports Awards. Danica & Nat Team have been nominated;

-         Road Words at Salina Coast Road envisaged for 2011.

-         Possibility that Salina Bay may become a temporary berthing marina for yachts.

-         Registration of major races will be held on Wednesday before Race. €10 extra on Race day.

-         Triathlete of the Year Award will be decided on 6 out of 7 Races; B’Kara: 4 out of 4.

-         Middle Distance Tri: Charlie Demanuele to confirm date of this race.

-         Focus of National Team regarding foreign participation will be TCSSE in Cyprus.  

-         Nathan Farrugia’s Hell Fire Triathlon, as well as a Duathlon on 31st March.

-         Athletes should participate in Races organized by B’Kara Sports Club.

 

Financial Report

Mr. Oswald Spiteri, Treasurer, then read the Financial Report. Main aspects of report:

Income: Eur9990.38

Expenditure: Eur9769.17

Favourable Balance: Eur221.21

Money in hand (Petty Cash) and in Bank: Eur3830.37

Liabilities: Eur746.00

Estimated Total MTA Liquid Assets as at 30/11/10: Eur3084.37

 

 

 

 

Proposals

During 2010, two well established Running Clubs in Malta opened a Triathlon Section within their fold; these are: St Patrick’s A.C. and Pembroke Athleta. Both Clubs had sent in copies of their Statutes with the necessary amendments regarding the formation of such sections. Representatives of both Clubs were present during the AGM.

 

Proposals were made to the members present for these 2 Clubs to be officially recognized by the MTA. Both Clubs were accepted with a unanimous vote (no votes against and no abstentions).  

 

The next step now was for each Club to nominate a representative to the Executive of the MTA. This representatives would be approved (or not) by the present MTA Executive. Once approval is cleared, then the MTA Executive will henceforth consist of 6 Members.

 

Other Matters

Donatelle raised the point regarding the contribution of each Club to the MTA. The President explained that there was no financial contribution; however, each Club has annually to send an application to the MTA to express its intent to continue operating its Triathlon Section. The main function of each Club is to promote the sport of Triathlon.

Fabio asked for information about electronic timing and about the possibility that it might be introduced in our Races. Euchar replied that the Cycling Federation had made a formal request to the KMS for assistance to purchase this equipment and that if this is granted, we would ask the Federation to lend the equipment to us at least for the major races.

Nathan asked why there was the necessity to continue affiliating to the MTA once an athlete now has a choice of 3 Clubs to be affiliated to. The President replied that the door should not be closed to those athletes who did not wish to be affiliated to a Club but preferred to be affiliated directly to the MTA. Moreover, affiliation fee was kept very low precisely to encourage everyone to be affiliated. Affiliation enabled a member to vote during AGMs and reduced Race Fees.

 

The AGM came to a close with the traditional presentation of the Triathlete of the Year trophies to this year’s winners: Danica Bonello Spiteri (received in her absence by her Father) and Brian Magri. There followed some light refreshments.

 

 

 

 

Manuel Azzopardi

President - Malta Triathlon Association